Abstract
Numerous reports indicate that the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning OEF/OIF military personnel
is creating a significant healthcare challenge. These findings have served to motivate research on how to better develop and
disseminate evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Virtual Reality delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been previously used
with reports of positive outcomes. This article details how virtual reality applications are being designed and implemented
across various points in the military deployment cycle to prevent, identify and treat combat-related PTSD in OIF/OEF Service
Members and Veterans. The summarized projects in these areas have been developed at the University of Southern California
Institute for Creative Technologies, a U.S. Army University Affiliated Research Center, and this paper will detail efforts
to use virtual reality to deliver exposure therapy, assess PTSD and cognitive function and provide stress resilience training
prior to deployment.
is creating a significant healthcare challenge. These findings have served to motivate research on how to better develop and
disseminate evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Virtual Reality delivered exposure therapy for PTSD has been previously used
with reports of positive outcomes. This article details how virtual reality applications are being designed and implemented
across various points in the military deployment cycle to prevent, identify and treat combat-related PTSD in OIF/OEF Service
Members and Veterans. The summarized projects in these areas have been developed at the University of Southern California
Institute for Creative Technologies, a U.S. Army University Affiliated Research Center, and this paper will detail efforts
to use virtual reality to deliver exposure therapy, assess PTSD and cognitive function and provide stress resilience training
prior to deployment.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s10880-011-9247-2
- Authors
- Albert Rizzo, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Thomas D. Parsons, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Belinda Lange, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Patrick Kenny, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- John G. Buckwalter, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Barbara Rothbaum, Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- JoAnn Difede, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- John Frazier, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Brad Newman, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Josh Williams, Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 Waterfront Dr., Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA
- Greg Reger, National Center for Telehealth and Technology, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Tacoma, WA, USA
- Journal Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
- Online ISSN 1573-3572
- Print ISSN 1068-9583